Garment rack



July 14, 1959 Filed R. A. MAGNUSON ETAL GARMENT RACK Nov. 18. 1955az/eaz rs azfozozzd a. Magm 943M d i aa z 6444 j' M GARMENT RACK nitedStates Patent Raymond A. Magnuson and Nels M. Christiansen, Chicage,11]., assignors t Vogel-Peterson (10., Chicago, 111., a corporation ofIllinois Application November 18, 1955, Serial No. 547,644

3 Claims. (Cl. 211-177) The present invention relates generally tocollapsible or knock-down garment racks and more especially, theinvention is concerned with improvements over garment racks of the typedisclosed in United States Patent No. 2,589,269, issued March 18, 1952,to Raymond A. Magnuson and Nels M. Christiansen.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide an improvedgarment rack embodying few parts which are novelly constructed andarranged to facilitate assembly and disassembly.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide in a garmentrack an improved brace construction which not only insures rigidity ofthe assembled rack but also permits both assembly and disassembly by oneperson without any need for external support for any of the racks partsto aid him in so doing.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the attacheddetailed discussion and upon reference to the drawings, in which:

Figure l is a fragmentary perspective view of an assembled rackembodying the features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section taken along line 2-2 in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section of the con nection between thebottom rail and a lower cross brace, as shown in section in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the connection shown in Fig.3.

Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the connection between thediagonal brace and the end cross brace of the illustrative device, asshown in section in Fig. 2.

While the invention has been described in connection with a preferredembodiment, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit theinvention thereto, but it is intended to cover all modifications andalternative construction falling within the spirit and scope of theinvention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the illustrative rack, the supporting elements are embodied in twoend frames and 11, each comprising a pair of spaced upright posts 12 anda series of cross braces 13, 14, and 16, rigidly connecting the poststogether. The posts and cross members may be formed of wood or, asshown, of sheet metal of relatively light gauge bent into channel oropen-tube shape of rectangular cross section.

The cross braces 14 and 15 may advantageously be of channel sectionwherein the web of the channel at each end of the cross brace is cutaway to permit the channel flanges 18 to straddle one of the posts 12and to be appropriately attached thereto as by spot welding. Each of thelower cross braces 13 extends slightly beyond the bottom ends of theposts 12 and includes at each of its ends a recess formed in theupwardly facing web for receiving the posts. When the post 12 ispositioned within the recess the joint may be completed by welding orbrazing. If desired, foot-caps 1211 may be secured to ice cover andstrengthen the joints between the posts 12 and the lower cross braces13.

It will be observed that in the illustrative rack each of the crossbraces 13 and 14 is reinforced by a supplemental channel located withinthe channel-shaped members comprising these cross braces and preferablyconnected thereto by spot welding or the like. Thus, a downwardlyopening shallow channel 19 is arranged within the cross brace 13 in sucha manner that its flanges 19a fit snugly within the flanges 13a of thecross brace (Fig. 3). As will be seen, the channel 19 is so positionedthat the outer edges of the flanges 19a and 13a are flush. In likemanner a shallow channel 20 is disposed within the cross brace 14.

The ends of the upper cross braces .16 are seated in notches 17 formedin the top of each of the posts 12 by cutting away the upper portion ofthe inside post face. The members 16 may be further connected with theposts by spot welding or the like if desired.

The end frames 10 and 11 thus constitute two rigid structures which arelight in weight and when disconnected from the rack are relatively flatand can be readily stored. The width of the end frames is preferablyslightly greater than the width of the garments to be hung in the rackbut if desired may either be narrower or wider.

For maintaining the end frames 10 and 11 in spaced relationship, anelongated bottom rail 21 is provided which is adaptable to detachablyinterconnect the respective bottom cross braces '13. From the drawingsit will be seen that the bottom rail 21 may advantageously be ofdownwardly opening channel section similar to that of the cross braces,including depending flanges 21a having inturned shoulders 21b formedalong their lower edges defining the open side of the rail. As will beseen from Fig. 4, the rail 21 carries at its ends connecting elements inthe form of downwardly directed locking tabs' 22 which are adapted toenter appropriate sockets 23 provided in the respective bottom crossbraces 13.

In this instance the locking tabs 22 comprise a pair of generallyrectangularly-shaped plate members preferably cut from flat sheet metaland spot welded to the ends of the rail 21 inside the spaced flanges21a. The lower portion of the end of the rail '21 is cut away as at 210to expose the connecting tabs 22.

For receiving the locking tabs 22, each of the sockets 23 is formed by acentrally positioned opening in the web portion and contiguous innerflange portion of the brace 13, and two spaced transverse slots 25 areprovided in the upwardly facing web portions of each of the supplementalchannels 19 exposed by the opening. Thus each socket 23 iscomplementally formed with respect to the end of the rail 21, and thelocking tabs 22 at each end of the rail can be easily inserted into theslots 25 so that the bottom rail is seated firmly in the lower portionsof the end frames 10 and 11. Attention is directed to the fact that theslots 25 are somewhat longer than the locking tabs 22 to allow someplay, for purposes to be presently explained, without producing anylooseness of the assembled rack.

When the rack is assembled diagonal braces 26, also preferably ofchannel section, extend across the lower corners between the bottom rail21 and the end frames 10 and 11, having appropriate connections thereto.In the present instance the braces 26 are mounted on the upper web ofthe bottom rail 21 as by ordinary hinges 27 spaced inwardly from thelower cross braces 13. When in properly assembled relation the upperends of the braces 26, which carry downwardly turned hook members 28thereon are seated in sockets 29 provided in the inner flanges 14a ofthe cross braces 14 (Fig. 5).

Conventional knock-down garment racks which are commercially availableare extremely diflicult for one person to assemble. Usually such racksmust be put together by at least two persons. One person must normallyhold one end frame in a vertical position with one end of the bottomrail connected thereto and the corresponding diagonal brace in placewhile another person holds the other end frame in a vertical positionand connects thereto the opposite end of the bottom rail and the otherdiagonal brace. Then while the end frames are maintained in a verticalposition, the upper ends of these frames must be connected together by atension member extending therebetween to hold the rack in assembledcondition.

Where one person attempts to assemble such a rack alone he must use anexternal support, such as the wall of a room or the like, to aid him inholding up one end frame of the rack while he manipulates the other endframe and bottom rail. and then puts in place the upper tension member.This is an inconvenient and clumsy procedure at best.

The reason that assembly of such racks is so difficult is thatconventional end frame and bottom rail connections are not capable ofmaintaining the end frames in a vertical condition during assemblywithout temporary external support being provided for these end frames.After the first end of the conventional bottom rail is connected to onevertical end frame and the diagonal brace put in place, the upper end ofthis end frame if externally unsupported tends to tip or lean outwardlyor away from the central portion of the rack. Such out ward leaning ofthis end frame of course results in an outward and upward pulling actionbeing exerted along the diagonal brace so that the bottom rail isaccordingly pulled upwardly at the joint between the brace and the rail,and the bottom rail thus tends to pivot about the connection betweenitself and the end frame. Under such circumstances the diificultyinherent in the assembly of such a garment rack will be readilyapparent.

In carrying out the invention, means is provided for facilitatingassembly and disassembly of the rack by one person without any need forexternal supports for any of the racks parts. In the present instancesuch means includes an outwardly turned tang 36 longitudinally extendingalong each of the inner flanges 13a of the cross braces 13 and disposeddirectly below the socket 23 for locking cooperation with the inner endportions of the inturned bottom rail shoulders 21b. It will be seen thatthe tang 30 corresponds in length to the distance between the interiorsurfaces of the flanges 21a so that the opposing end portions of each ofthe inturned shoulders 21b at one end of the bottom rail 21 are adaptedto engage the underside of the respective ends of the tang projectingfrom the corresponding bottom cross rail 13. In practice the length ofthe tang 39 is slightly less than the inner web measurement of thechannel-shaped bottom rail to facilitate easy movement of the parts intoand out of engagement.

Thus in assembling the illustrative rack a person may stand up one endframe with one hand and easily insert the tabs 22 at one end of thebottom rail into the slots 25 carried in the lower cross brace 13 onthat end frame with the other hand. Engagement of the rail shoulders21!) with the tang 30 may then be effected by simply swinging this endframe slightly outwardly to permit the inner end portions of theshoulders adjacent the cutaway portion 21c to slip under the ends of thetang. Such slight swinging movement of the end frame and resultingpivotable connection between the bottom rail and end frame is possiblebecause of the aforementioned play of the locking tabs 22 within theslots 25. The corresponding diagonal brace 26 is then connected to theend frame by seating the hook 28 in the socket 2h provided by the endframe cross rail. This is accomplished by swinging the end frameslightly inwardly to resume a vertical psition so that the hook member28 extends into and becomes tightly seated in the socket 29.

In this way the bottom rail 21 and end frame are positively lockedtogether as shown in Fig. 3 and the end of the bottom rail is seen tofit snugly within the socket 23. The members are held from becomingdisengaged and the end frame stands up vertically without requiringexternal supports and without causing the bottom rail to be lifted orotherwise displaced.

Thus, one end frame is capable of maintaining itself upright and theperson may then assemble the other end of the rack in like manner. Tocomplete the assembly, the upper ends of the end frames 10, 111 areconnected by a tension member which pre-stresses the frame members andthereby holds the braces 26 in compression to remove all play andproduce a rigid assembly. The end frames 10 and 11, whether of metal orwood, yield sufficiently to permit them to be pre-stressed for theaforesaid purposes.

The tension member employed may advantageously be in the form of anelongated garment hanger rail 31 connected between the opposing uppercross braces 15 and disposed at the desired height for a hanger rail. Inthe present instance the rail 31 is notched at 32 at each of its ends toprovide a portion 33 extending over and resting on the cross braces 15.Any suitable connection between the hanger rail 31 and the cross braces15 may be provided but a hook or clip type connection is preferred. Thelength of the rail 31 is suitably adjusted so that when firmly connectedto the cross braces 15 it exerts a slight bending moment on the endframes 10, H to develop compression in the braces 26 for the aforesaidpurposes.

A shelf 34 may advantageously rest on the top of the frames 10 and lllso as to serve as a cover for the garments as well as a shelf. In thepreferred form, the shelf 34 is made of sheet metal downwardly flangedat its sides and carrying at its ends downwardly extending fiat hooks(not shown) which enter appropriately placed registering slots providedat the top of the upper cross braces 16.

In disassembling the rack, the shelf 34 and hanger rail 31 are firstremoved which thereby releases the end frames 10 and 11 for slightswinging movement outwardly with respect to the bottom rail 21 so thatthe upper ends of the diagonal braces 26 may be withdrawn from theirseats in the sockets 29. After the hooks 28 are so disengaged from thesockets 29, the bottom rail 21 may be removed from the end frames 10 andIll by disengaging the shoulders Zlb from the tang 30' and lifting thetabs 22 at successive ends of the rail 21 from engagement with thecorresponding sockets 23. The entire rack is thus knocked down in amatter of seconds time and the individual elements which are few innumer and light ht may be readily stored in a small space.

One of the advantages of the invention is the provision of an improvedknock-down garment rack which may be quickly and easily assembled in themiddle of a large room, such as a wardrobe or gymnasium floor, by oneperson without the aid of external props or supports.

We claim as our invention:

1. A knock-down garment rack comprising, in combination, a pair ofspaced and substantially vertical end frames each including a horizontalcross bar, a horizontal bottom rail detachably joined to said cross barsat substantial right angles thereto in a manner to permit limitedswinging movement of said end frames relative to said bottom rail, saidbottom rail having a downwardly facing opening therethrough defined by apair of opposed inturned shoulders running longitudinally of the rail, adiagonal brace interposed between and connected to each end frame and apoint intermediate the ends of the bottom rail for strengthening theassembled rack, a pair of disengageable connections interposed betweenthe ends of said bottom rail and said respective end frame cross bars,each of said connections including a connecting tab on the end of thebottom rail, each of said cross bars having a complemental socketengaged by respective ones of said connecting tabs, and retaining meansarranged longitudinally on each of the cross bars adjacent said socketsand engaging said inturned rail shoulders to positively preventinadvertent disengagement of said connections when the end framesundergo limited swinging movement outwardly with respect to said bottomrail.

2. In a knock-down garment rack having a pair of spaced andsubstantially vertical end frames each including a horizontal cross bar,a horizontal rail for detachably joining said cross bars at substantialright angles thereto in a manner to permit limited swinging movement ofsaid end frames relative to the rail, and including a brace memberinterposed between and connected to each end frame and a pointintermediate the ends of the rail; a disengageable connection interposedbetween one end of the rail and one of the end frame cross bars; saidconnection comprising a locking member adjacent the end of the rail andan inturned shoulder on the rail and longitudinally spaced from thelocking member, and said one of the cross bars having a complementalsocket engaged by said locking member and an outturned tang engaged withsaid inturned shoulder so that the tang and shoulder prevent inadvartentdisengagement of the connection when the end frame undergoes limitedswinging movement outwardly with respect to the rail.

3. In a knock-down garment rack having a pair of 6 spaced andsubstantially vertical end frames each including a horizontal cross bar,a horizontal rail for detachably joining said cross bars at substantialright angles thereto in a manner to permit limited swinging movement ofsaid end frames relative to the rail, and including a brace memberinterposed between and connected to each end frame and a pointintermediate the ends of the rail; a disengageable connection interposedbetween one end of the rail and one of the end frame cross bars; saidconnection including means for positively locking the rail end andrespective end frame toprevent inadvertent disengagement of theconnection when the end frame undergoes limited swinging movementoutwardly with respect to the rail.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS430,340 Eyles June 17, 1890 543,020 Holmes July 23, 1895 774,272 PolesNov. 8, 1904 1,540,140 Ohnstrand June 2, 1925 1,655,593 Bulman Ian. 10,1928 1,662,768 Wait Mar. 13, 1928 1,908,270 Shafier May 9, 19332,152,584 Cranshaw Mar. 28, 1939 2,216,319 McGee Oct. 1, 1940 2,589,269Magnuson et a1. Mar. 18, 1952 2,589,947 Magnuson et a1 Mar. 18, 19522,592,839 Wessig Apr. 15, 1952

